Client Profile: Nick Walsh & Sophie Richmond
Nick has kindly written the article below on their family, working life and the relationship they have with our company since 2014. We greatly appreciate their contribution to Trade Secrets.
My wife Sophie and I have been clients of GFM since 2014.
We have two teenage daughters both still at school and a permanently hungry Labrador!
I am 50 years old and have been in the steel industry for 28 years. Sophie is a GP and has done a fantastic job balancing everything a working Mum has to do nowadays.
We love travelling. The more remote, the better: Alaska, Patagonia, Antarctica, Falkland Islands, Serengeti etc…
I first made contact with GFM to get advice for my ageing Mum.
It was important for me to see someone who was not only qualified and reputable but not owned by a bank. I knew of horror stories such as Storm Financial, and I wanted to ensure I was entrusting my Mum’s money into good hands.
After doing a little bit of research, I found GFM seemed to tick all the boxes, and so I went off to see Patrick Malcolm for an initial consultation. I was so impressed with his proposal and methodology with my Mum’s affairs that a few weeks later Sophie and I joined as clients.
Prior to meeting Patrick, we were “financial drifters”; going along OK but no real strategy, goals or understanding about when we could retire and how much we would need to do so. We’d had some financial hits and misses over the journey. I thought I knew a bit but in reality, knew very little. Sophie and I liked the idea of buying an investment property but thought that ship had sailed. Thankfully, GFM was able to set up an SMSF for us, and within a few months, we had bought a nice property in Surrey Hills. Suddenly we had a plan for the future, and for the first time Sophie and I felt confident that financially we were “getting it together”.
We’ve really enjoyed our time so far with GFM. We feel like members of a special club. Everyone has been so helpful and friendly. Nothing is ever too much trouble, and everything is made easy. The addition of GFM Gruchy Accounting into the business has meant that tax returns are really easy too as Andrew our accountant just has to phone upstairs to get the info.
We look forward to our biannual portfolio reviews with Patrick and Nicola. Everything is clearly documented and explained to us on a level we understand. We discuss the investments and get an opportunity to update any circumstances that may have changed.
As successive Governments have changed the legislation around superannuation, it is so important to engage the services of a professional who is across the changes and can give you advice specific to your own circumstances. We would be lost without Patrick and Nicola’s advice.
GFM know how to mix business with pleasure too. We have thoroughly enjoyed the movie nights, dinners, golf day and of course the footy tipping.
What will the next decade bring for Sophie and me? Getting our girls through private school is the first goal. Beyond that, we want to renovate, travel and build up our super.
We also have to be aware of our ageing parents and their changing needs.
We are excited about the future but understand it will be a challenging and competitive future for our children. Like most parents, Sophie and I want to make sure we are in a financial position to help our girls enter the property market when the time comes around. We feel that with GFM’s assistance, that hope will be a reality.